This year was supposed to see the return of former two-division champion Conor McGregor, but alas, the UFC faithful were left disappointed. Will he fight again? How much more has he got left to give? Has the UFC moved on? Those questions remain. The Irishman is a far cry from the fighter that would precisely predict when he would finish a fight. From 2014 until 2016... that was peak McGregor. It really was a case of you just had to be there. Every time the 36-year-old stepped foot inside the glittering cage, he would always put on a show.
While the Jose Aldo fight was quite simply mesmerising, the Eddie Alvarez blockbuster lightweight showdown was a real turning point in the history of the UFC. In what was a one-sided contest, 'The Notorious' well and truly put the sport on the map for what he did at the MSG. Even the non MMA purists were singing his praises.
Sadly, that was the last top McGregor performance. A boxing showdown with Floyd Mayweather was followed by a brutal defeat to bitter rival Khabib Nurmagomedov. His last win inside the cage came four years ago against UFC veteran, Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone. The knockout was impressive, but it just didn't have that feel to it. The Irishman then reignited his rivalry with former dance partner Dustin Poirier three years ago. After suffering a devastating knockout in the Middle East, the MMA icon was itching to exact his revenge just a few months later. On the biggest stage, he crumbled when the lights were at its brightest - suffering an agonising loss in the first round, breaking his leg in the process.
